Rolls-Royce has recently announced that it has developed an all-electric aircraft that is expected to reach a speed of more than 480km / h and thus enter the record books. It was stated that the purpose of the ACCEL (Accelerating Electrification of Flight) program behind the "Spirit of Innovation" plane, which is planned to be a record attempt, is to inspire the scientists and engineers of the future. To help achieve this, Rolls-Royce announced that it launched a design competition for the world record initiative, where the design of the helmet that the test pilot will wear during the test flight will be determined.
In this direction, Rolls-Royce announced that it will work with Fly2Help, a charity that supports young people to communicate and instill the idea of making a career in aviation within the scope of the competition to be held. It was stated that the competition will consist of two categories, 5-11 years old and 12-18 years old, and the designs of the winners will inspire the final design of the helmet. In addition to the opportunity to see the aircraft, the winners will have the opportunity to meet with Rolls-Royce test pilot and Flight Operations Director Phill O'Dell and the relevant engineer team.
Phill O'Dell, who is excited to meet young people, said: “The opportunity to fly our fully electric 'Spirit of Innovation' plane, which we developed for our world record goal, will be the culmination of my and my team's career. The reason for this is that our plane is at the forefront with its advanced electrical technology, and at the same time creates a wonderful opportunity that enables us to inspire the next generation of aviation pioneers. "
In addition to the project, it was emphasized that Rolls-Royce, who has been supporting young people for a long time, attaches importance to encouraging them to pursue a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Accordingly, Rolls-Royce, which is stated to have partnerships with more than 1400 STEM Ambassadors and organizations such as Scouts and Code First Girls; In addition to this competition, it was pointed out that within the scope of the ACCEL project, downloadable materials were developed for primary school children. It was stated that the relevant materials developed are compatible with the UK curriculum and can be downloaded free of charge from the Rolls-Royce website.
In addition to his views on the project, Phill O'Dell said: “The Spirit of Innovation aircraft will be the first and only of its kind, so the helmet I wear must be unique to reflect the pioneering nature of the project. I have worked with Fly2Help for many years to promote exciting career opportunities in aviation, so working with them in this competition has been very meaningful to me. ”
Sharon Walters, Fly2Help Manager, commented on the partnership: “We are delighted to be supporting Rolls-Royce's 'Design a Helmet' competition. We believe that the all-electric world record initiative they will realize in this context will provide an incredible opportunity for Fly2Help, which is trying to encourage the future career goals of children, to showcase exciting opportunities in aviation.
In the statements made within the scope of the ACCEL program, it was stated that the electric motor and control device manufacturer YASA and the aviation start-up Electroflight were the main partners. It was stated that the ACCEL team continues its innovation studies by adhering to the UK Government's social distance and other health rules. It was announced that the semi-financing of the project was provided by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) in partnership with the Ministry of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Innovate UK.
Within the scope of the program, it was stated that the "Spirit of Innovation" aircraft will have the most powerful battery ever mounted on an aircraft, capable of powering 250 homes or flying 321 km (from London to Paris) on a single charge. In the statement made by the authorities, it was pointed out that the technical features that the 'air taxis' require from their batteries are similar to the battery developed for the "Spirit of Innovation" in order to reach record speeds. It was announced that Rolls-Royce, which continues to develop the battery, aims to use the technology in the project in the future and apply this technology to market products.
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